Improvement in life-preservers



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L-ife-Preservers.

'No.1 49,513. PatentedAprilmsM.

wnNEssEs f INVENTOR Homey/S UNITED STATES PATENT OEEToE.

MARCUS ORMSBEE, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

` IMPROVEMENT IN LIFE-PRESERVERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 149,513, dated April 7, 1874; application Sled December 24, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARCUS OEMsBEE, of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Life-Preserving Cushions or Pillows, of which the following is a specilication':

The subject of my invention is an annular or double sack, filled with air or with cotton, ground cork, ror other buoyant material, made as hereinafter described, in such a form as to adapt it to be worn upon the arm as a sleeve, or upon the legs when used for swimming, or, in the case of the inflatable form, to constitute y a double cushion or pillow for the head or body of the user.

The device may be made of suitable size and form to adapt it for use as a bed, or as a cushion or pillow for traveling or domestic use, and for use as a life-preserver, or as an aid in swim ming or iloating on the water in a horizontal position.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure l is a perspective view of a life-preserving cushion illustrating my invention, made in the shape of a sleeve. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the same as adapted to be inflated with air. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the same iilled with cotton or other buoyant material. Figxa is a perspective view of the form of the invention shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a transverse section of theV same at 5 5, Fig, 4.

The life-preserver is made of india-rubber or other cloth, with two webs, A B, one within the other, connected at their ends, and inclosing a chamber, C, within which is an open space, D. It may thus be made to be worn as a sleeve, and to retain it upon the arm or legs. A strap, E, is provided, furnished with a suitable buckle, F, and passing through loops G. H is the customary valve or mouth-piece for inflating.

The annular form of this life-preserver, when inflated with air, causes it to present, when used as a pillow or `head-rest, a double cushion, so that it may be laid upon the top or edge of a car-seat or chair-back, or upon any other comparatively sharp or narrow object, and still afford an easy pillow. It may likewise be used as a seat-cushion, or it may be made sufficiently large for one or more, to be used as a bed.

The device is of great utility for swimming w purposes, either by learners or skilled swimmers. It enables the wearer to rest with perfect ease upon the water, in either a vertical or horizontal position, as preferred. It may be made in any preferred shape to adapt it to be worn on the arms, legs, or simply for a double cushion.

Its elastic and yielding character, and the adjustability afforded by the strap E, adapt the device to be drawn ou easily over an lovercoat or other clothing, orto he fastened easily and securely on the bare arms, and on the legs for swimming, or a part or the whole may be worn in the bed at night without any inconvenience.

For purposes of alit'e-preserver, the annular sack may be made buoyant, either by inflation, as already described, or by the introduction of cotton, ground cork, or other buoyant material.

A I am aware that life-preservers have before been made to be strapped around the person; but the merit of my invention consists in the practical adaptation of life-preservers to the limbs of the user, whereby he is caused to iioat securely in either a vertical or horizontal position.

I claim as new- An annular life-preserver and cushionvcombined, constituting a double sack, adapted to be iilled with air, cotton, cork, or other buoyant material, and to be applied to the person by drawing it on the limbs, and operating in the manner substantially as herein set forth.

MARCUS ORMSBEE.

Witnesses:

THos. P. HOW, JNO. KEDZIE. 

